Secret Woodlands Three Little Miracles

For @Koda only.

She had been minding her own business, keeping near the den, and looking around to look for any places that herbs would start growing. Unfortunately just as soon as she had started, a pain shot through her abdomen, something she had grown use to for the passing days, for her pups had been kicking quite often recently. Little did she know, that today would be different and that the pain in her stomach was not just from her children kicking within her. The next time the wave flowed through her stomach, she had to keep back a grunt of pain, one that ended up being muffled. Quickly, the Woodland’s alpha realized that she was going into labor and that she was about to give birth. Stubbornly biting her tongue, she pushed her way towards the rocky den, knowing that she needed to be careful. As she made her way towards the den, she could feel the liquid slowly dripping down her hind leg, causing her to grit her teeth. She soon made it to her den, a lay down, ready for the pain she was about to put herself through.

With the next wave of pain hit, she let out a painful groan, her head raising to call for her mate. It screamed, ”@Koda!” She knew he would come, and she knew he would keep them out. At least for the time being, her pack mates could see the younger generation at another time when the alpha was not delivering. For many minutes she lay there, panting and trying to calm her breathing, when the pain hit once again. Pushing, she felt someone slid out of her back side, and quickly, Nina bent over to the pup, biting what connected him to his mother and licking fur back before prodding the dark male towards her stomach, offering up what she could offer to the small pup.

For hours she lay there, knowing that Koda was outside of the den, protecting and looking over her. The pain was bearable, but she knew that it was the worst pain she had ever felt in her life, physically or mentally. By now she should have known that instinct was the only thing driving her through this birth. When another searing pain shot through her, she pushed once again, feeling another being slip from her. Repeating the same process she had done with her first son, she looked over the second male, his even darker pelt too hard to determine from within the darkness. None the less, she pushed the small male towards her offering him something to suck on and to keep him busy while she waited. She kind of wished it was already over, but from the way she was feeling, she knew quite well, that it wasn’t.

Luckily, the last pup to arrive did not seem to take as long as the other had. After long moments of pain, and surely some sign of release from her, she gave one last final push. Small growls escaped her as she pushed; glad to feel relief once the final pup was out of her. Panting, she bent back and quickly repeated the same process with the final pup, her golden brown muzzle pushing the small, creamy pup towards her stomach. With a relieved sigh, she waited for any other sign of pain, for the need to push out once more. After several moments, she found herself happy that the pain was over and overjoyed that she had been blessed with pups. Her job was not done yet. Quietly, she called for her mate, ”Koda….Koda….come see….we need….to name them.” The woman was working hard to keep her strength up now, fitting to keep her eye open. She did not want the father near their children yet, though she was sure he knew that. She just wanted him to see them, help her name them. A small crack in the rocks allowed sunlight to pour over her pups, allowing her a better look at them. With the sight a small smile played on Nina lips. Looking over the pups, she glanced over to her mate’s face and quietly whispered, mentioning to their second born, ”He looks like my brother, Koda…do you think the name Ashton fits?” With a content sigh, she allowed herself to glance back towards her love, awaiting his perception.

It seems when you're around, my life is complete.

Nina's sharp cry for Koda had him in motion instantly, running deftly through the tangled forest to reach her. Each breath and course of blood through his veins brought a sharp pain along the back of his skull, the old headache seemed to return at the most inopportune moments, but he wouldn't let that or anything else stop him from reaching his mate. He stopped, nervously panting outside the mouth of the hidden den. He did not enter the dark opening in the rock, as much as he wanted to be at her side in this moment. He would give her her privacy to do what she had to. He sat, stood, paced outside the mouth of the cave the next few hours, the wait was excruciating and he could only imagine how much more trying it all was for Nina. He only wanted to know that she was alright.

The soft tone of her voice threaded outside the den, finally beckoning him inside, and in an instant he was within it's entrance. Slowly, cautiously, he leaned down to his elbows, pushing his head just past the stony sentinels that guarded the mouth of the den to look inside. His honeyed eyes peered through the darkness, first seeking out Nina's flicking emerald eye, and then, illuminated by a thin shaft of light through the cave's ceiling were the small wet wriggling bundles at her belly. He crawled forth on his stomach towards the mother of his cubs, his growing excitement shown by his tail waving tentatively behind him. Closer now, he could see all three of the cubs tucked beside his golden love, all safe, sound, and alive. Koda gave a beaming smile in return for Nina's own, so glad she had come out of it alright and so very proud of her.

His ear flicked curiously at her first suggestion, and he looked closely at the darkest of the trio. Indeed, the sable coat was reminiscent of Ash, and Koda knew that Nina and Ash were closer now after making amends. "He does, my love. I think it's fitting, a beautiful name for him." Koda leaned closer, getting a better look at the other two. The lighter boy caught his eye and a name suddenly came to him, "Tacoma," Koda said simply, looking to Nina to see what she thought. "It's the name of a great mountain," He explained himself, "So he may grow with the perseverance and determination of one."

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

She was only slightly more relaxed now that everything was over. The pain was gone and she was filled with what felt like wholeness. For however long she had fantasized about having children with Koda…they were finally at that point. Her children lay right beneath her. It must have been instinct, for immediately as her mate entered the den her lips pulled back to reveal her canines, a protective gesture towards her pups, to warn off her mate and keep him a respectful distance away. He stopped, and she relaxed, but only slightly. She watched her children suckle on what she could offer them and curled her golden brown head, drenched in moisture, around them. Turning her single eye towards her mate, she smiled at him slightly, pleased that he accepted the name of the pup she had named. Looking towards their first born as he named the male, she nodded her head agreeing with him. By far, he was the largest one at birth, but little did the parents know that Ashton, their second born would be the largest in the years to come.

Sweeping her gaze across to their third born, their female, she lifted her head, peering at the young female. The small creamy one of the pair was the quietest of the litter and by far the most peaceful. With this in mind, her gaze once again swept over the other two pups before trailing back to her girl. Smiling, she turned her head back to Koda, "And she can be Danica." Nodding her head along with her words, just as she usually did, she lay her head down, knowing that exhaustion was soon going to take a toll on her. Just before she fell into a deep sleep, did she hear herself mutter quietly, "Koda…when Ashanti delivers…be there…for her…" With her final words the caring alpha fell asleep, her head tucked near the three bundles of her cuddles up near her stomach and her breath finally evening out to a steady pace. The Secret Woodlands pack now had their three new members of royalty.

It seems when you're around, my life is complete.